The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-04-30

DEAR SIR:-Slnc6 Ln4BuDllcaUlOn or
my letter of February II Eeertain events
have transpired which Nmost compel
me to again present a letter to THE
UNIvERsALIsT. That 3letter caused
considerable agitation among my Meth
odist friends, and it is almost needless
to state that it directly caused me to
give up my ministerial cEedentials, and
to withdraw from the membership Of
the Methodist Episcopal lchurch. This
1 very reluctantly did, Though it was
an act of justice to mysdd as we'll as to
the church, for no one cp consistently
live in a church, if no#in sympathy
with its doctrines. E@
In the first place, ills asking too
much from church hpse pride is
unity of creed, and in til Second place,
it places an individual "a false posi-
tion before the world. No Chat your cor
respondent stands with1nt the pale of
the Methodist Episcopal church, there
can be no charge ofs' dislof atty 'heralded
by those who, with all ever-jealous
eye, guard the honor of faith and creed.
Should this s.article be reak7bY any of the
most enthusiastic Methodists, let them
be assured that its write regards them
with charity and good will, for there
was a period of which ! can write that
latter the most strictesf sect'' 1 lived
Methodist. Before tie publication
of my letter in THE UNfVERsALIsT, 1
had resolved to sever M relation with
the church. It was bH no means a
spirit of hostility that induced me to
write that letter. / had cherished
hope that one could withdraw from an
orthodox church and noG sever the for
mer friendly relations ofbhurch fellow
ship, but this was only afkempty dream,
for even in this age of bpasted liberty,
many men are so blinded by prejudice
to creed that they will sacrifice friend
ship and Christian charity in order to
maintain the dignity of adecaying dog
ma.
My course in publishing that letter
has called forth some y6ky severe criti-
cisms from several paIkp under the
auspices of the orthod Maternity
most prominent amoni hem may be
found d~tlae-za3seaates = ; ~ 80
Grafton is one of the most complex,
puzzling problems that ever has, in the
course of events, presented itself to the
the minions of orthodox theology. By
them it has never been solved. No one
has been asked by me to accept my
views on any subject. No thought of
causing contention among my former
associates in church relations ever en-
tered my mind.
Yet disloyalty, dishonesty and treach-
cry have been the burden of the charges
and criticisms that have been brought
to bear upon me by those ecclesiasti-
cal bulwarks of medieval superstition.
who sometimes act as if all the theolo-
gy in the universe had been monopo-
lized and patented by them. For crimes
against society, men can be finally par
doned by their fellow-mortals, but the
man who honestly questions and denies
the sophistry of an outlived creed, has,
in the estimation Of its prejudiced ad-
vocates, committed an objectionable
sin. Immoral conduct will be tolerated
by creed blinded sects, much longer
than strange doctrines" Loyalty to
faith has ever been the watchword Of
the orthodox church. Orthodox hatred
nailed the great teacher of Gaiilee to
the cross, and not because they had
found aught against his character, but
because their traditions were in danger.
Although robber, Barrabas was
soundly orthodox, and was, in conse-
quence thereof, preferred to one who
had spoken against the traditions of
men.
AS two of the Methodist ADVOCATES
have been somewhat severe in their
criticisms, and have made statements
which imply dishonest course on my
part, wish to submit for their prayer
full consideration, some facts connected
with ''bit of church discipline" in
this locality, and, having cleansed their
own garments, let the one of all their
number who is without sin, cast the
''6rst stone."
AT the quarterly conference where
the writer was accused of false doctrine,
the Presiding Elder, spiritual over
seer of the flock, informed his audience
that "false doctrines have a greater
tendency to cripple the church, than
all other evils combined, and that any
one guilty of Observation-Disclosures
dox doctrines, eriminated himself in
the estimation of the "powers that be, d
and that his offense should be classed
the same as immoral conduct; This is
the first time that We ever heard a
plain statement of this character, but
we do know that it has been the senti-
ment of the orthodox clergy from time
immemorial.
Notwithstanding the fact that it was
an evoeedingIv easy matter to make Z